There is an argument of “undergrounding” regarding “townscape improvement”, “preservation of safety sidewalk” and “improvement of reliability of information lifeline in case of disaster” in Japan.
This argument is like based on “utility pole is evil” thinking as if utility poles are obstacle and the world will be perfect when utility poles are gone. However, utility pole has not only high level of safety and fine functionality for maintenance but also we can find well artistic character as industrial aesthetics when you look at it closer. It is a landmark that symbolizes this era and it is second to none when we compare it with an artwork made from fair-faced concrete by a world-famous artist or a tower object in an exhibition made by a worldwide contemporary artist. “Undergrounding” needs huge cost and energy. “Undergrounding” is indeed said by people with old-fashioned idea who cannot imagine the utilization of existent resources.
Nowadays, Japan has many big issues such as revision of the constitution, aging population and low birth rate, social security issue that includes pension and medical treatment, budget deficit, restoration of earthquake disaster, nuclear, decentralization and administrative reform proposal.
In this Upper House election, political parties had just repeated their slogan and unimportant party plans since the above issues have been existed. These parties should have discussed about essential issues such as the ideal future form of Japan and what the supreme law of the land should be.
It was first time that Shinzo Abe, the president of Liberal Democratic Party, appealed about revision of the constitution at the last phase of this election. He said that he will challenge to revise the constitution in order to make the country that we can be proud of.
